Thoughts on giving a 19 year old the "C"?
New Arena, new faces... we face off against Cowtown on Wednesday... are we ready?
Personally, while I can see why they gave him the C, I don't think it was the right move. I think someone with more experience in NHL games over a few more years might have been a better choice for the C to lead the team in times of crisis or strife. But hey he could surprise me and turn out to be a great team leader for the Oil. Time and this season will be the teller obviously.
The starter goalie is good, although he's gonna have a baby soon to take care of, just like Dubnyk did in his last year with the Oil. The backup goalie is career meh in the NHL and showed some wonky moves in his first Oilers preseason game, he'll have to play better than his own average to help out the new-dad goalie. The defense is better, unless injuries happen again. The offense is similar, although more physically intimidating so less likely to just be pushed out of the zone. I dunno if there'll be a large improvement this year, I really see the large improvement happening in McDavid's third year with the Oilers. Still, the players that the Oilers currently employ should make for a generally fun game to watch.
I dunno that there's anything wrong with McDavid wearing the C as a 19yo. McLellan is on record saying that McDavid had a lot of feedback at the year end meetings and was quite outspoken. Which is what you want from a captain - someone who points out what's missing or being done wrong, then has the skill to show you how to do it correctly, all while staying friendly with all the coworkers.
I'm ready for a good year of hockey
I also kind of want to check out the new arena
Maybe we can get some seats together and hit a game
I'm not interested in the new arena at all. So many other good works could have been done with that money, instead of gifting it to a billionaire. Also, the Dutch in me can't believe how expensive everything there is. $20 for a hamburger, $11 for a beer? That's what I've heard, anyway.
edit: $15 for cheeseburger and fries: http://www.edmontonsun.com/2016/09/10/crowds-cheer-edmontons-new-arena-as-rogers-place-opens-doors-to-public
Five dollars for a Mars bar.
?We tried ? to find prices that were most fair for the market.?
I figure my tax dollars are paying for it I should at least try it out
@%&#ing 5 bucks for a candy bar?!?
$5 for a Mars bar that is $1 at the grocery store.
$11 for a Coors Light that is 12 for $24 ($2 each) at a liquor store.
$7 for a slice of pizza, eight slices per pizza, $56 for the whole pizza. A single cheese or pepperoni pizza, the big ones, are usually $15, so one slice is under $2.
$4 or more for a bottle of water, which is 24 for $6 at a grocery store (so $0.25 per bottle).
Tickets in the lower bowl are $75-$150 if you get them from the Oilers originally. But many of the games have sold out and now only have resale tickets. And resale tickets are running $400 to $600 per seat in the lower bowl, some as high as $1,200 (@%&#ing scalpers).
I've been to the arena for the Oil Kings opener. Pricing is about what Thorin said, but it may be more at an actual Oilers Game. I am going tonight so can let you know.
What I'm really interested in is what's the security like? They say no outside drinks and you step through a scanner, but could you tuck a plastic flask into an inside pocket without them finding out?
While I don't know about that, my Wife did bring in a Water bottle during the Oil Kings game. She just had to open the lid to let them smell it. And yes you go through scanners but not as strict as an airport. They have pictures on the scanners telling you what to take out of pockets, which was really only Keys, Purses, Phones. Rest could stay in.
Man what a Schedule both Oil and Jets have in November. Crazy jammed month!
Man, last night's game, as the article says "the 'new' Edmonton Oilers looked a lot like the old Edmonton Oilers Sunday"
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/old-habits-haunt-new-oilers-deserved-loss/
That dump in goal against Talbot was embarrassing...
Quote from: Mr. Analog on October 17, 2016, 10:22:37 AM
Man, last night's game, as the article says "the 'new' Edmonton Oilers looked a lot like the old Edmonton Oilers Sunday"
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/old-habits-haunt-new-oilers-deserved-loss/
That dump in goal against Talbot was embarrassing...
Yeah, how hard is it to square up against a puck, for @%&#'s sake? Goalies are supposed to stop pucks with layers. Stop it with the stick, with a pad or glove behind whenever possible. Catch it with the glove with the body behind it if possible. He did this stupid knees-to-the-right-lean-to-the-left because he thought he's cool and can do that, instead of following the proper goalie protocol on a save like that: glove in front of the belly button, knees together and square to the puck.
In the first period they had one exciting chance about a minute in, and then it was like they didn't really give a rats ass. I get losing due to an unlucky bounce or a good snipe, but man, the way they were playing I was surprised it didn't end 8-2.
I'm scared guys, I think we might have a hockey team on our hands this year...
Quote from: Mr. Analog on October 27, 2016, 08:37:26 AM
I'm scared guys, I think we might have a hockey team on our hands this year...
Don't jinx it! Just keep assuming its a bunch of todlers fighting over who gets the puck.
Quote from: Tom on October 27, 2016, 08:41:37 AM
Quote from: Mr. Analog on October 27, 2016, 08:37:26 AM
I'm scared guys, I think we might have a hockey team on our hands this year...
Don't jinx it! Just keep assuming its a bunch of todlers fighting over who gets the puck.
True. The cynic in me is wondering which will happen first; injury or incompetence (the despair, then golf)
BUT I GOTTA BELIEVE!
The new coach clearly has said, "This is how you play hockey". And then the manager traded the top dog (Hall), and everyone else sat up and realized they're not safe either.
I've noticed there are less shots on net this year, but the shots they do take are more often from the area where you have a high chance to score; the "home plate" area. It starts at the goal posts, goes out to the faceoff dots, then straight up to the top of the circles. Shoot from inside there and you're more likely to be celebrating a goal.
Also, coach will actually back up what he says. "Don't take stupid penalties, they hurt the team; I'll bench you if you do". In an earlier game, Pouliot took stupid penalties. Then he sat on the bench without getting sent out for two entire periods, even though he's our second-best left winger.
I have to laugh, too, at people complaining about the second line (Pouliot, Nugent-Hopkins, Kassian) not getting enough goals. Pou-Nuge got two goals last night! The thing is, McLellan seemed to be matching the second line against the opponents' top lines whenever possible, giving (hopefully) easier competition for the first and third lines.
Dare to dream? I'm staying even-keeled, I'm sure some losses will happen while they're on the road next month. But beating Washington like that, they played a great game, the only goal scored by Washington was when Ovechkin was being covered and then suddenly the guy covering him (Kassian) skated away. In Kassian's defense, he's a winger and I'm sure he's been told as a winger he's supposed to cover the other team's defense. Just, not if you're already shoulder-to-shoulder with the other team's most prodigious scorer and you're almost at our net...
The Oilers played what is normally considered a "scheduled loss" today: second of a back-to-back pair of games, third game in four days, on the road so can't even control who's playing against who. Teams in this situation only win 22% of the time, thus "scheduled loss". They also had the statistically weaker goalie in net (by a fair bit), and lost two right wingers to injury the night before. And they managed to squeak out a 2-1 win!
Talbot and Gustavsson (the goalies) are both doing everything they can to help the team.
The third and fourth liners know their roles (penalty kill, battle the other team's higher lines to a tie so our higher lines can score and win the game), and they're also helping out with the scoring. For instance, Lander/Letestu/Pitlick lead in points per 60 minutes played. Now, they only see half as much ice time as the top players, but they're definitely making sure to be useful when they get to step on the ice.
People get worried about Nuge and then the next game he picks up a couple of points.
People see McDavid not get a point in a game or two and get all worried - he's still over a point per game, and if he keeps this up all season he'll hit 90-100 points!
Also interesting, the game they lost in New York had the Oilers' tying goal disallowed, and then the Rangers winning goal came in the last 90 seconds of the game - it was a very close and well-fought game, nothing to be ashamed of.
They now have as many points as they did last year at the end of November, and there's still almost four weeks to go.
Yesterday's game was a real treat, got to see a lot of pieces come together, makes me want to believe in things again
Back on top of the Pacific Division
Great goal last night!
https://twitter.com/EdmontonOilers/status/801811178649288705
...I know... I'm scared too
Quote from: Mr. Analog on November 24, 2016, 08:41:05 AM
Great goal last night!
https://twitter.com/EdmontonOilers/status/801811178649288705
I was watching that, and after four viewings I still can't see the puck entering the net. I see it on his stick, I see it in the net, I know people say it banked off the goalie... It just happens so quickly!
...
Edmonton is 7th out of 30 in the league.
Edmonton is 2nd out of 14 in the conference.
Edmonton is 1st out of 7 in the division.
Edmonton is 25 points in 21 games, or 1.19 points per game, or trending to 97 points for the season.
Teams will probably need 1.11 points per game, or 91 points for the season, to get into playoffs.
They're going in the right direction, even with that slump in early November.
Now they're 32 points in 28 games, that's 1.14 points per game projecting to 93 points. Should be good enough for playoffs! We'll see, though. It was Philly last year that broke McDavid's clavicle, and they're playing Philly tonight. Hopefully there's no repeat.
Quote from: Thorin on December 08, 2016, 01:23:53 PM
Now they're 32 points in 28 games, that's 1.14 points per game projecting to 93 points. Should be good enough for playoffs! We'll see, though. It was Philly last year that broke McDavid's clavicle, and they're playing Philly tonight. Hopefully there's no repeat.
I am excite!
I didn't get to watch much tonight, I was driving. Looks like it was a fun game to watch if you like goals, hell if you only enjoyed the game if they won.
Oh, and the guy who broke McDavid's clavicle last year apparently told him on the ice tonight he did it on purpose.
Lots of scoring on both sides unfortunately. I wish it was a OT loss though
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That was a great shootout goal last game, McDavid is earning his keep, that's for sure.
But I have to wonder if the target on his back is growing and what an injury might do to the team. A lot of great things are happening throughout the team and I have no doubt that it is in part because they gave the C to the right guy, I worried that mid-season injury could sink the teams progress.
Next game tonight!
Quote from: Mr. Analog on December 19, 2016, 08:02:36 AM
That was a great shootout goal last game, McDavid is earning his keep, that's for sure.
I found the game itself to be dull and uninspiring, first ten minutes had nice crisp passes and lots of movement, and then it was like the air was let out of the tires. Good on them for not giving up, though. McDavid's first shootout goal, well, it was like he was shooting at a shooter tutor, not an actively-trying-to-stop-him goalie.
Lots of chatter about why the coach scratched Pouliot while playing Hendricks and Beck - vet vs vet, Pouliot has shown he's more capable than Hendricks and Beck's a rookie.
One thing's for sure, they've lost lots of d-man time this season, but for once they have some depth at defense so every time a defender gets injured, it seems there's someone else available to take their place. Sekera is turning out to be an excellent defenseman, he's our #1D, and Kris Russell is doing okay keeping up with him. Klefbom and Larsson are doing good as a pair, they look like they'll be our second pair this season. That means rookies and lesser d-men like Nurse and Davidson and Benning and Gryba get to shine on the third pairing. I really hope they find another decent right-handed defenseman to put in with Sekera, and then put Russell back on the left side (he's a lefty shooter).
| 1-2 | Sekera | - | ?? |
| 1-2 | Klefbom | - | Larsson |
| 2-3 | Russell | - | Benning |
| 2-3 | Davidson | - | Gryba |
| 3-3 | Nurse | - | Fayne |
Five defensive pairings is what a typical NHL team needs to make it through all the possible injuries in a season. They're almost there. With a couple that could be considered the first pairing and several that could be the second pairing, it doesn't seem that anyone needs to play higher up the order (more minutes against the other teams' elite players) than they're currently capable of.
Man that was @%&#ty reffing last night against Arizona. Like, full-on, absolute garbage.
Huh, should have posted in this thread instead of the Gretzky one.
Remember when we were worried about injuries?
@%&# me, I shouldn't have said anything...
Aye... you should have kept it to yourself. Draisaitl spearing? I can't see the game right now but going to have to watch that highlight. How many games is that he gets?
Also did they get a record broke from regular season - is that 7 penalties I see with the 10m and 5m to Draisaitl?
LOL and Wow
So did we win?
http://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/nhl/cult-of-hockey/cult-of-hockey-game-grades-oilers-come-off-the-rails-in-7-0-blowout-loss
^ the "silver lining" is sports writers putting together such poetic works of art as this. From the JOURNAL no less. O_O
Just to keep perspective - last year the season was done by December and there was no hope of playoffs. This year, we're getting upset that the team is tied 2-2 in the first round of the playoffs. They went from 70 points to 103 points, 44 more goals for and 33 less goals against, the first time they've won more games than lost in the regular season since MacTavish was coach (the 08/09 season).
Of course all us Oiler fans want to see the team go deep into the playoffs, all the way to the Stanley Cup, that's the passion in us speaking. But viewing the team's strengths and weaknesses and current situation, it is impressive that they're in the playoffs and are hanging in against last year's second place (nearly won the cup) team.
While I know a lot of Oiler fans that are upset, I'm more on the same lines of thinking as you say Thorin. It is quite an improvement and accomplishment where they are now. But that being said, they almost clenched 1st in their division so while they are a young team and inexperienced compared to San Jose's veteran depth for playoff play, they do have the potential to step up their game to be true contenders. It wasn't by fluke they finished where they were in the regular season.
And I know people can say the Play-offs are a brand new game, but again its the same players from the regular season for all teams, so its not like there was a roster change or refresh (excluding calling ups here), so if they had the potential for 1st in the division, they damn well have the potential for a second or third round in the play-offs IMO.
So while I'm happy how they have done and am truly impressed where they are at, I am hopeful we'll see them back in game 5 ready to play!
I know a lot of "fans" who jumped on the bandwagon are whining on social media, I also know we've tied a series that last year we couldn't have dreamed of
#GoOilers
Yeah, bandwagonners galore, but that's fine. The more the merrier! I've been a fan long enough to have an obscure jersey from 2008 (Sanderson, it's signed and it came from a fundraiser for one of my kids' sports teams).
teams that have more playoff wins than the Oilers this year (5): Ducks, Blues, Predators, Senators, Penguins
teams that have the same number of playoff wins as the Oilers this year (5): Maple Leafs, Sharks, Rangers, Capitals, Canadiens
teams that have less playoff wins than the Oilers this year (19): Wild, Blue Jackets, Bruins, Blackhawks, Flames, Avalanche, Canucks, Coyotes, Devils, Flyers, Hurricanes, Islanders, Jets, Kings, Lightning, Panthers, Red Wings, Sabres, Stars
God damn I want to see Anton Lander sub in for David Desharnais, though. That Davidson-for-Desharnais trade, I don't understand that at all.
Yeah no kidding, I question that trade big time.
Either way we play game 5 tonight 8:30! Gonna be a good un
Quote from: Real World MelbosaFor @%&#'s Sake Jones let one in already!
And then he did.... /CalmMelbosa once again.
What a HUGE comeback!
Wow, everyone questioning the Davidson-for-Desharnais trade yesterday before the game, calling for Lander to be put in the line-up instead, and then Desharnais sets up the tying goal and scores the OT winner. Good on him.
Now they get two chances at getting to the next round.
My entire family, including my ten year old, was up and watching this game. We tried sending our ten year old to bed at 9:30 since it was a school night, but around 11 he quietly wandered back out to the living room. So we gave in and let him finish watching the game, thinking it'd be over right away.
And man, the Oilers completely owned that overtime. Like, the Sharks weren't even trying to shoot, they were just hoping to clear the puck and change.
I am super stocked for next game
Who would have thought we might have a chance at 2nd round!
BEST OILERS OVERTIME PERIOD I HAVE EVER WITNESSED.
So one-sided, was yelling at the screen why didn't you guys play this hard during regulation time! :)
Best overtime I can remember was game 3 of the 06 western semifinals between San Jose and Edmonton. Edmonton had snuck into the playoffs on a late surge by Roloson, getting the eighth spot and then knocking first-place Detroit out in the quarterfinals. In game 3 of the semifinals, with my 9yo, 6yo, 5yo, and heavily pregnant wife all watching, they went into OT. They ended up going to a third OT period and Horcoff finally scored the game winner. That was the turnaround for the series, as the Sharks had won the first two games and then the Oilers won the next four straight. All my kids were up past midnight watching that game, and the big talk was, "Aren't they hungry? What are they going to eat?" Geebus, that game had us on the edge of our couch for three hours straight!
I remember that game, at the time it was pretty warm out for spring and so many folks in my old apartment had their windows opened. When the goal was scored you could hear the cheering throughout the building... good times :)
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 21, 2017, 03:32:00 PM
I remember that game, at the time it was pretty warm out for spring and so many folks in my old apartment had their windows opened. When the goal was scored you could hear the cheering throughout the building... good times :)
Wasn't that also the one that lots of people didn't see as they thought the game was over in the first OT? Or am I thinking the bouncing puck over the stick and Oil recovery for the tieing goal game?
You're thinking Patrik Stefan's Career Defining Missed Open Net: https://youtu.be/9bBns6ZUn0U
Quote from: Thorin on April 21, 2017, 06:14:11 PM
You're thinking Patrik Stefan's Career Defining Missed Open Net: https://youtu.be/9bBns6ZUn0U
yeah so that was the night half of Edmonton stopped watching and people the next day had no idea we won.
Quote from: Melbosa on April 21, 2017, 06:48:03 PM
Quote from: Thorin on April 21, 2017, 06:14:11 PM
You're thinking Patrik Stefan's Career Defining Missed Open Net: https://youtu.be/9bBns6ZUn0U
yeah so that was the night half of Edmonton stopped watching and people the next day had no idea we won.
Nope, the Oil lost it in a shootout so didn't win the game. But people had given up on the game and started heading home early because the Stars were looking good enough to close it out. I mean, the Oilers were up 4-1 and then Dallas scored four in a row to make it 5-4, and then the Oilers were playing pretty poorly for the last several minutes; a pretty typical they're-not-trying-anymore kinda game that you wouldn't miss anything if you left ten minutes early. And then, all of a sudden, as they're driving home, OVERTIME ON THE RADIO! Which, truth be told, was pretty exciting overtime as well. The Oilers got such a shot in the arm from tying it up with two seconds to go that they came out full force for the next five minutes. I remember Turco having to stand on his head to get to the shootout.
So yeah then it was the 3 periods of OT one that half of Edmonton didn't know it keep going.
What a win tonight!
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Aye was awesome!
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 23, 2017, 12:24:58 AM
What a win tonight!
Same old same old - close out the 3rd with the lead and an empty netter :)
...I was listening to the last 5 minutes on the radio coming back from Superstore. Sounds like the rest of the game was intense?
Last night's game was great!
Tough first and second period and then the floodgates opened in the third.
To win the first game of the series in the opposing team's barn is really something
May it be habit-forming ;)
Agreed!
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 27, 2017, 07:59:23 AM
To win the first game of the series in the opposing team's barn is really something
Agreed... just lets hope its nothing like Series 1 against the Sharks!
Quote from: Melbosa on April 27, 2017, 10:22:53 AM
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 27, 2017, 07:59:23 AM
To win the first game of the series in the opposing team's barn is really something
Agreed... just lets hope its nothing like Series 1 against the Sharks!
Next game is gonna be tough I think, I also think this series is gonna go to Game 7
I predict a 4-0 or 5-1 series in favour of the Oil.
Quote from: Melbosa on April 27, 2017, 10:37:58 AM
I predict a 4-0 or 5-1 series in favour of the Oil.
I think that's optimistic, but hey anything can happen in playoffs!
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 27, 2017, 10:41:48 AM
Quote from: Melbosa on April 27, 2017, 10:37:58 AM
I predict a 4-0 or 5-1 series in favour of the Oil.
I think that's optimistic, but hey anything can happen in playoffs!
Hey predictions and being right don't go hand in hand :D
@%&# yeah, that was a good game. McDavid's being shadowed so tight that if he leaves the defensive zone his shadow goes with him and it becomes, effectively, 4 on 4. Nuge and his linemates are standing tall against all comers, working hard in their own end and then getting great chances in the offensive end. Then, the Oil get goals from their fourth-line center and their "defensive defenseman", who isn't supposed to be a goal scorer. Meanwhile, Draisaitl apparently was ill (flu or something?) and is now back to prime playing form (and got points on four of the five goals!).
I think the Ducks are gonna play dirty, Getzlaf is gonna do everything the refs let him get away with plus a few more things, especially when their backs are turned. The Oilers will probably see at least one of their top-six forwards or top-four defensemen injured at some point.
I think it'll go six games if the refs blow the whistle more (with the Oil winning the series 4-2), seven if they blow the whistle less (with it being a toss-up which team wins the series).
Quote from: Melbosa on April 27, 2017, 10:37:58 AM
I predict a 4-0 or 5-1 series in favour of the Oil.
I don't think we'll ever see five games won in a best-of-seven series...
A key point for me was the defensive responsibility in the empty net goal. I know, why am I talking about defensive responsibility with that, right? Well, most players see the empty net and just shoot it from far away to try and get the goal. But Lucic and Draisaitl both realized if they missed, it would be icing, and there would be a faceoff in their own end, plus for quite a bit of the skate up-ice with the puck there was a Ducks defenseman doing a really good job being in the scoring lane, so if they shot it and he intercepted it and quickly passed, there'd probably be a sudden 5 on 3. So instead of jumping on the possibility of a playoff goal to add to their tally, they kept carrying the puck up ice and passing east-west (less likely to be intercepted) until the lane was clear and there was no danger of icing.
Sure, the score was great and I'm glad they won the first game. Moreso, though, I'm glad the team seems to have learned to not jump like an excited puppy on a chance to score a goal, but that the players actually think about what their missed shot might cost the team. That, right there, is a really important lesson for the next ten years.
Quote from: Thorin on April 27, 2017, 11:25:46 AM
Quote from: Melbosa on April 27, 2017, 10:37:58 AM
I predict a 4-0 or 5-1 series in favour of the Oil.
I don't think we'll ever see five games won in a best-of-seven series...
Sorry, I hope everyone knew what I meant: 4-1
Quote from: Thorin on April 27, 2017, 11:25:46 AM
@%&# yeah, that was a good game. McDavid's being shadowed so tight that if he leaves the defensive zone his shadow goes with him and it becomes, effectively, 4 on 4. Nuge and his linemates are standing tall against all comers, working hard in their own end and then getting great chances in the offensive end. Then, the Oil get goals from their fourth-line center and their "defensive defenseman", who isn't supposed to be a goal scorer. Meanwhile, Draisaitl apparently was ill (flu or something?) and is now back to prime playing form (and got points on four of the five goals!).
My thoughts on the McDavid situation is I hope he keeps his head. Kessel is one of those guys I'm glad is basically babysitting McDavid because he can be a dangerous play maker in his own right if he is left alone. If McDavid can also hang around a D as well (like Gretz used to when other teams would pull this on him), that widens it up even more almost creates a 4-3 situation if the D is essentially shadowed by McDavid (and Kessel sticks to his shadowing). But like I said, as long as McDavid just plays the game & small opportunities in front of him and stays out of the mind game of frustration that the shadow creates, I'm OK with the rest of the team making the goals, making the plays, creating the wins. Sure the Oiler's star is effectively hindered, but it will take more than McDavid to make a Stanley run (as we have seen through 7 games so far).
And Draisaitl I think is still fighting a bit of the cold... his post game interview was still sniffles and coughs. So if he is still on the tail end of that cold, imagine what is to come if its almost over.
That's actually a good idea - if you're being shadowed, then shadow one of theirs and now two of 'em are tied up with just one of you.
Well now, how about them Oilers? The Ducks played less dirty than game one, the Oilers more than game one, and Talbot decides to steal the game anyway.
The next two homegames will be awesome. I can't believe in a week they might be resting up for the Western Conference Finals...
I missed Wed and Fri so really hope they lose one game so I can sit at Rogers for the series winner :)
I'm just floored by their performance. Lookkin forward to tomorrow's game
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I know I'm getting ahead of myself, but it's entirely possible right now for an all-Canadian Stanley Cup Final series. Ottawa's playing well, their second game they managed to come back from a two-goal deficit twice to win it 6-5 in the second overtime. Pageau was the scoring star there, he took four shots on net and all four of them went in!
Although after watching the Pittsburgh-Washington game yesterday, I gotta say Pittsburgh is playing fantastic and their players all click really well together. I honestly think Pittsburgh will find a way to beat Ottawa in the Eastern Conference finals.
According to dad the Oilers have something like three to one odds of making it to the final
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While I may not be an Ebs basher, I can't say I disagree with some of the assessments of his play as of late: http://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/nhl/cult-of-hockey/edmonton-oilers-coach-todd-mclellan-furious-at-jordan-eberle-says-team-insider. It may be that we expect so much out of him and Nuuuuuug and give guys like Lucic a break because he is new, but it is frustrating to not see production of out the likes of Ebs offensively, and sometimes a lack of physical play defensively.
Feel free to rip me on this, as while I will always be an Oil fan, in honesty during regular season play I pay more attention to the Jets than Oil, so you guys might know better than me of what the Oil expect out of Ebs. As a fan watching this team in the play-offs though I say again, I able a bit concerned at his level of production.
I haven't read Staples in a while, I get all my Oilers news from Lowetide (there's so much content there it's hard to keep up daily). The article you linked talks about how people seem to view Eberle's play as horrible, then points out that he's not actually playing horrible (though not as good as during the first round) and that several others are performing poorly as well.
I've been watching the Oilers for years, and Eberle is playing his most defensively-responsible NHL hockey of his career, compared to even the start of last season. Defensively-responsible hockey naturally involves less jumping the gun and odd-man rushes (except for McDavid, who can move an extra twenty feet over a typical NHL defenseman in the same amount of time going blue-to-blue). Eberle's scoring happens on rushes and defensive breakdowns, where he has a little more space around him to make the shot, and on plays where he backhand-roofs it, again a play requiring a bit more space around the net. He hasn't had this extra space due to a change in his style of play, and thus this year he's seen a drop-off in goals scored. He's also seen a drop-off in goals scored against while he's on the ice.
Lucic - Nuge - Eberle as a line have thus far in the playoffs been given the task of shutting down the opponents' top two lines, and most games they do that very well. Last game, Eberle and Lucic were moved away from Nuge and it did nothing for their games. Best to keep that line together, they've figured each other out.
As for Eberle not hitting, I don't think he's ever been a naturally physical player. I think at younger ages and lower levels he always danced around the hits and then kept skating, and so it's just not natural for him. He does lay hits, that linked article even counted them as a little over one hit average per game. But I'm sure he has to actually consciously think about it, whereas a player like Lucic or Nurse (or Peckham, or Torres) just does it without thinking.
One thing I will say, man, once the hate mob gets going on Twitter, everyone piles on. Which is why I ignore any "news" posted on Twitter.
Quote from: Thorin on May 02, 2017, 09:36:51 AM
One thing I will say, man, once the hate mob gets going on Twitter, everyone piles on. Which is why I ignore any "news" posted on Twitter.
Yeah I typically don't follow much on Twitter in regards to Hockey, even with the Jets.
I have seen the match up of the LNE line to top SJ lines and noticed the effective shutdown work they have been doing. Admittedly I'm dated on my image of Ebs and his role for the Oil, as I also have watched the Oilers for years, but not some much in recent years as closely as before the Jets return. And yes the article wasn't a rip of Ebs, more a look at him now and what he does and doesn't do compared to what has been said. Guess I have to accept his role now as what it is, and not what I remember it was.
Thanks for adding your view!
So I don't know about you guys but I almost had to buy a new TV today!
why?
Quote from: Melbosa on May 04, 2017, 07:35:29 AM
So I don't know about you guys but I almost had to buy a new TV today!
I made a very loud sound, is it legal to kill a Referee in Canada? (asking for a friend)
I wasn't watching the game and even *I* felt a disturbance in the Force.
I refuse to look for video clips to reduce my chance of homicidal rage.
AT LEAST there have been some fairly funny pictures coming out of it all, at least on Facebook :)
Quote from: Mr. Analog on May 04, 2017, 05:17:28 PM
Quote from: Melbosa on May 04, 2017, 07:35:29 AM
So I don't know about you guys but I almost had to buy a new TV today!
I made a very loud sound, is it legal to kill a Referee in Canada? (asking for a friend)
Only if you can catch them with the Zamboni.
(https://68.media.tumblr.com/5a999d8dd057fd6b36f35311bdf74dc9/tumblr_o5ylm7Ih0E1um0usbo1_1280.gif)
Quote from: Thorin on May 05, 2017, 09:37:57 AM
Quote from: Mr. Analog on May 04, 2017, 05:17:28 PM
Quote from: Melbosa on May 04, 2017, 07:35:29 AM
So I don't know about you guys but I almost had to buy a new TV today!
I made a very loud sound, is it legal to kill a Referee in Canada? (asking for a friend)
Only if you can catch them with the Zamboni.
(https://68.media.tumblr.com/5a999d8dd057fd6b36f35311bdf74dc9/tumblr_o5ylm7Ih0E1um0usbo1_1280.gif)
WHERE'S FRANCIS!
Jesus Christ, there's audio of the ref reviewing the goaltender interference call, and he actually says, "My only thing is, what do I say to Corey?": https://www.reddit.com/r/EdmontonOilers/comments/69eupd/nhl_livewire_refs_discussing_the_1st_anaheim_goal/ (https://www.reddit.com/r/EdmontonOilers/comments/69eupd/nhl_livewire_refs_discussing_the_1st_anaheim_goal/)
Follow that up with Colin Campbell coming out and saying Corey Perry's known for his goaltender interference, it's known to be one of his strengths, he's "pretty cute" at doing those things, but they decided to "give him the benefit of the doubt".
What absolute horse@%&#. If a player is known for breaking a rule all the time, punish him more, not less!
Yeah I heard that today as well.
Jesus @%&#ing Christ, what pure utter @%&#ing horse@%&# of a stupid @%&#ing call.
Kesler is completely in the blue paint and grabbing and pulling on Talbot's pad and somehow the refs decide in record time that's not goalie interference! And that's not even considering Perry running into Talbot just before it.
I am only now seeing the high lights as I was in a movie at 11 (we were at the VIP lounge watching the game until 5m left in the third). And when I shut of my phone the oilers were still in a 3-0 lead with 4m to go. Imagine surprise to find out the loss after I get out, and now my anger at seeing why.
I can not imagine how it felt in real time, but suspect even more harsh of a blow :(
So WTF is goalie interference? Whom ever calls Lucic with the answer needs to call us next.
I searched online for just "Oilers goalie" and skimmed recent headlines from various news sites, I swear the CANADIAN ones are all like "referees stiff Oilers AGAIN..." while AMERICAN ones are all like "Ducks incredible comeback win..."
HOOOOOOOOLD...
Yesterday left nothing to chance! #GoOilers!
I kinda felt like this series would go to game 7 but I had hoped it would be because of skill not @%&#-ass reffing
This game will be decided by penalties
Can't wait for Wednesday!
Quote from: Melbosa on May 08, 2017, 09:29:34 AM
Can't wait for Wednesday!
Same! Can't believe we're this far along really. WOO!
Well my hats off to the team this year for making it as far as they did and to the city of fans that held out hope! Just think what the team can accomplish next year, just have to see what the expansion draft brings.
We got hockey until May, that's something I never would have thought this year. First round maybe, but second round too?
We're no longer a bottom-of-the-barrel team!